There is no record of a Church vote to call Elder Alexander Smith to the pulpit of the Pompey and Manlius Church. He abruptly appeared in the Church minutes, with no introduction, as having baptized 23 men and women on March 7, 14, April 4, 11, and June 15, 1847. On July 3, 1847, at a Covenant Meeting the Reverend Alexander Smith presented a letter of dismission from the Honesdale Baptist Church, dated June 28, 1847, and requested membership in the Pompey and Manlius Baptist Church. By motion Reverend Smith was voted to be received as a member. It was written that, as his ministerial duties have already begun, "we hope the union just formed will become a blessing to both Pastor and Church."
On September 4, 1847, Elder (the names Elder and Reverend and Pastor were now used interchangeably) Smith led a delegation of Brothers John White and Lauriston Fish to the Onondaga Association Meeting, which was held in the Second Baptist Church in Onondaga Hill on September 14 and 15, 1847. On December 8, 1847, the Annual Meeting of the Church was held in the Conference Room. Reverend Alexander Smith was the Moderator. The major piece of business was a motion to empower the Trustees to take proper and legal measures to sell the parsonage house and lot belonging to the Church and Society. No reasons were given. It is possible that the Church could not afford to keep up the property or that it needed the money from the sale to meet current expenses. The Church could no longer offer a rent-free house as part of the salary package for prospective pastors.
The Church has no legal papers for the sale of the parsonage. However, Dr. Thomas A Moore built a new home on the site (now 501 Seneca St.) in about 1854. The old parsonage was incorporated into the house as the east wing and used as his office. The east wing still stands in 2000, no longer used as an office but as part of the living quarters of the house. Dr. Moore became an active member of the Manlius Baptist Church. He was a Trustee, headed up the effort to remodel the Church in 1867-68, and championed the cause of Elder Nathan Wright, voted out as Elder of the Church in 1869. Dr. Moore was angered by the treatment of Elder Wright and left the Church in protest.
On August 5, 1848, at a regular Church meeting with Reverend Alexander as Moderator, a motion was made and carried to appoint a Superintendent of the Sabbath School. Melancthon Stillwell was nominated and elected unanimously. Because Deacons were elected for life, an election for one was a rare occasion. There was a vacancy in the summer of 1848. (Moses Eells resigned because of old age). A motion was made and carried that the Church appoint a Deacon by Ballot. Chancy Parker received six votes, Brother F. Weston one vote, and Brother Moses Eells one vote. Brother Parker was declared duly elected.
On September 19 and 20, 1848, the Pompey and Manlius Baptist Church had the honor of hosting the Onondaga Association's Fall Meeting. It was the 24th anniversary meeting. Delegates appointed were Reverend Alexander Smith, Deacons Jesse Smith, George Richardson, Brethren Melancthon Stillwell, Franklin Weston and Moses Eells. Brethren Sheldon Graves, Hiram Smith, Chancy Parker, and Duwell Merrick were appointed a Committee for arrangements.
The member Churches of the Association usually wrote letters reporting conditions and progress in their Congregations. The letter from the Manlius and Pompey Baptist Church to the Fall meeting (in Manlius) was encouraging. The summary read, "Union prevails here, the faithful administration of the word is enjoyed and a deeper work of grace wrought in the hearts of believers. Some of their number have entered their rest. Their Sabbath School is flourishing."
The last mention of Reverend Alexander Smith in our records as a Pastor was on November 5, 1848, when he preached and baptized a girl named Mary. In 1849 it was mentioned that a note given by Elder Smith to the purchaser of the parsonage was transferred to the Church and Society as part payment for the debt due. The amount of the note was equal to the sum due Elder Smith for his last three months' service as Pastor. The Trustees were authorized to give up Elder Smith's note and obtain his receipt in full.
Reverend Alexander Smith joins Elders McCarthy and Spaulding as spiritual leaders of the Church for which we have little or no biographical information.
